Fate can be Fatal

Part 40: Hospital

Waking up in a strange bed, Toni freaks out but is quickly calmed by the voice of Pea, who's sat by her bedside. "Please tell me I'm not dead" laughs Toni, blinking repeatedly, recollecting last nights events in which she just about cheated death. 

Pea chuckles as Jughead and Fangs walk in to greet their very injured friend, "Alive. Coping?" Jugs jokes, placing his hand on Tonis bruised shoulder. "Barely" Fangs says, "no offence Tons, you look awful".

"Jeez, thanks a shit tonne Fangs" as the gang joke about. "Seriously though, how you feeling?" Jugs asks attentively. 

"Could be better but I'm just mad Jug, Penelope managed to fuck off to god knows here and I'm stuck here--- wait wheres Claudius?" she panics, trying to sit but winces in pain because of her broken rib. 

"Tons, calm. He's in custody. There's enough of your DNA on his hands to charge him with whatever they can. Assault, torture, attempted murder and the list goes on, and since he's only recently out of jail, he'll be sent back for a long time" Fangs reassures Toni.

A few beds down, sits Cheryl. The nurse finally leaves after dressing her bleeding wrists from the rope. Also panicking, she's joined by Betty and Veronica who help her up (still in shock) and to Tonis room. The boys evacuate before Cheryl gets there, allowing them to be alone and manage to talk. 

Cheryl opens the door to Tonis room, "Hey Cheryl" Toni says smiling, the bloody wounds still fresh on her face. Struggling for words, Cheryl walks forward and sits on the chair next to the bed, taking her hand firmly, shocked still at the sight of her girlfriends injuries. 

"You're----your face Tons---" placing her hand on Tonis cheek softly. "Looking as good as ever right?" she jokes, trying to make best out of a bad situation. She kisses her gently, hoping not to cause her any pain. "Cheryl. I'll be fine. I am fine. We need---the police need to find your mother. Then it can all offically be over. Which is all we need and this shit-show can finally be put to bed" Toni tells her as the nurses walk in, asking Cheryl to leave so Toni can catch some sleep. She kisses her goodbye before leaving the room. 

Despite practically being ordered to go home by the hospital, Cheryl stays on the bench opposite the room, since she isn't allowed in with Toni. Only family allowed, a stupid rule. She burys her head in her hands and begins to sob, making her breathing irregular. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she looks up, it's Pea. "Pea?" she says, wiping the masses of tears from her eyes. "Cry Cheryl. If that's what you need, I think that's what we all need" comforting her. 

Pea begins to tear up with her, "Not that tough after all" Cheryl jokes, looking up at him. "Shut up" he replies playfully, allowing the tears to flow down his cheek and off his face. 

"Pea. She could've died. If you guys didn't get there when you did, he would've killed her" she coughs from the tears, "He would've, right in front of me and I couldn't do anything. I love her so much, I----" 

"I know Cheryl, me too. Obviously not in the same way, but she's practically my sister. I don't know what I'd do if something worse had happened" Pea explains as their heart to heart carries on for a few more minutes. Pea grabs them some water and they both eventually fall asleep on the bench, waiting to see Toni the next morning.